2017 Annual Meeting Highlights & Thank Yous
| Publication year | 2017 |
| Pages | 42 |
July, 2017
KBA Awards Recognition 2017
Phil Lewis Medal of Distinction
F. James "Jim" Robinson is a business litigation partner in the law firm of Hite, Fanning & Honeyman, L.L.P. He received degrees from Southwestern College (1980) and the University of Kansas School of Law (1983).
He has held a number of leadership positions in the Wichita Bar Association, the Kansas Bar Association, the Kansas Association of Defense Counsel, and the Defense Research Institute (DRI) .
He served as Chair of the Steering Committee of Kansans for Fair Courts. He serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Lawyers Committee of the National Center for State Courts in Washington D.C. and of the National Advisory Committee of the National Association of Women Judges "Informed Voters?Fair Judges"ﾝ Project.
He has received the Howard C. Kline Distinguished Service Award from Wichita Bar Association (2016), two President's Awards from Wichita Bar Association (2009, 2014), Kevin Driscoll Outstanding State Representative Award from DRI (2015), State Leadership Award from DRI (2015), Distinguished Service Award from Kansas Bar Association (2014), Distinguished Service Award from Kansas Association for Justice (2013), Distinguished Service Award from Kansas Association of Defense Counsel (2007), and three F. James Robinson, Jr. Awards for Legislative Advocacy from Kansas Association of Defense Counsel (2006, 2009, 2013).
He served on the Board of Directors of United Methodist Youthville, Inc. (1985-2006) and as Board Chair (19901991; 2002-2003). In 2002, he received from Child Welfare League of America the National Award for Board Leadership.
He is a member of the Social Sciences Hall of Fame at Southwestern College.
Jim is married to Jennifer Robinson, and they have three children.
The KBA's Phil Lewis Medal of Distinction is reserved for individuals or organizations in Kansas who have performed outstanding and conspicuous service at the state, national, or international level in administration of justice, science, the arts, government, philosophy, law, or any other field offering relief or enrichment to others. The recipient need not be a member of the legal profession nor related to it, but the recipient's service may include responsibility and honor within the legal profession. The award is only given in those years when it is determined that there is a worthy recipient.
Professionalism Award
Honorable Gwynne E. Birzer, the sixth United States Magistrate Judge sitting in Wichita, Kan., was appointed to the bench on July 1, 2015. Judge Birzer holds two degrees from Washburn University; a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice received in 1989, and a law degree received in 1992.
Following law school, Judge Birzer practiced law in Topeka, Kansas in the public sector as an assistant public defender, an assistant district attorney, and as an assistant attorney general, and in the private sector in her own firm.
In 2004, Judge Birzer relocated to Wichita, Kan. where she worked at the Sedgwick County Public Defender's Office. In 2006, she joined Hite, Fanning & Honeyman, LLP where she specialized in medical malpractice defense litigation.
In 2011, Judge Birzer became a partner in the firm, and she served in that capacity until her judicial appointment.
In addition to her judicial responsibilities, Judge Birzer serves her community on various boards and civic organizations. Judge Birzer has taken on leadership positions in both the Kansas and Wichita Bar organizations. She has served on various KBA and WBA committees. She is also a member of the American Bar Association, and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
This award recognizes an individual who has practiced law for 10 or more years who, by his or her conduct, honesty, integrity, and courtesy, best exemplifies, represents, and encourages other lawyers to follow the highest standards of the legal profession as identified by the KBA Hallmarks of the Profession
Distinguished Service Award
James M. Concannon is the Senator Robert J. Dole Distinguished Professor of Law at Washburn University School of Law. He is a 1971 graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law. Following graduation, he was Research Attorney for Justice Alex Fromme of the Kansas Supreme Court for two years.
He joined the faculty at Washburn in 1973, where he has taught Evidence, Civil Procedure, Appellate Practice, Conflict of Laws, Legislation, and Transnational Products Liability Litigation. He was selected by students in 1977 as the second recipient of the William O. Douglas Professor of the Year Award. He served as dean at Washburn from 1988-2001. He is the author of many book chapters and articles and has been a frequent speaker at CLE programs.
Concannon is a Kansas Commissioner to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, serving on its Style Committee and as Legislative Liaison for Kansas. He is a member of the Kansas Judicial Council's Pattern Instructions and Civil Code Advisory Committees. In 2012, he received the Kansas Supreme Court's Justice Award. In 2011, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Kansas School of Law.
Since 1992, he has been Administrator of the Sam A. Crow American Inn of Court and is a past President of the Inn. He served on the Editorial Board for The Bencher, the national publication of the American Inns of Court. He also was President of the Kansas Fellows of the American Bar Association. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Kansas Legal Services for Prisoners, Inc., and Kansas Appleseed Foundation, Inc.
This award recognizes an individual for continuous long-standing service on behalf of the legal profession or the public, rather than the successful accomplishment...
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